It was not raining. If it were raining, that would give the impression that one would not get completely soaked once stepping outside. No today it was almost like swimming. Water pooled on the ground in the Outdoor Training Area of the Academy. Each step taken brought up mud, water and sludge. There was barely any wind, the rain just feel straight down. It made it such a dreary day.

But this could not stop the truly dedicated students of the Academy. In the half-light of the day, one could still see figures duelling in the harsh weather. Moving through the mud, the battles were just as fierce as ever. Steel met steel, ringing out against the constant drumming of the rain. These fighters may not be the best that the academy could offer but they were certainly some of the most dedicated fighters.

One fight in particular was very ferocious. The way the combatants fought their lives might as well have depended on it. One was a young man, no older than twenty wielding a long sword. His opponent was an Elven woman wielding a pair of short swords. Their blades clashed in a flurry of shining metal. Neither side seemed to have an advantage.

Water and mud flew up around them as they performed their deadly dance. Neither warrior gave an inch. One lunge parried, only to have to fall back to a block then into a slashing attack. The added weight of their soaked clothes and cloaks had little effect on them. The man’s blade came dangerously close the elf’s head but it was expertly parried.

Alexander whirled backwards from Master Windsong. His sword dropped to his side and he chuckled through laboured breath. They had been out here for a few hours now. The biting cold had melted away in the heat of combat but each time they took a moments rest, he could feel it creeping through his muscles.

“You can feel it?” Came Windsong’s musical voice from under her green hood.

“Of course,” He replied, the same relaxed tone that always knocked his opponents off balance. “But this would be nothing compared to the freezing north, surely?”

“It is as close as we can get here,” Windsong lowered her blades from her guard position to her side. “The damp clothing, rain and cold will all be something you will experience. The mud is no substitute for the snow. It is far less restricting than snow but loosing your balance is still just as easy.”

“I understand, Master,” He replied, bowing his head.

“I know you do,” She walked across to him sheathing her swords. A smile graced her beautiful features. “I shall return to teach my other students now. I shall see you at tonight’s meal.”

“Very well,” Alex replied, watching her head back to the Indoor Arena. She moved with a grace that he could never match. Each strike was one fluid motion that led to another. He had learned how to do this but it was nothing compared to how easily she did. But she would not be Master Windsong otherwise. Sheathing his weapon, he turned his gaze towards the other combatants. He doubted anyone would want to challenge him out here but there was nothing wrong with waiting.

In the downpour Ivory had lost her sense of direction and honestly had no idea where she was. She had looked for shelter earlier to no avail. The ground was as soaked through as she was. All she had managed to do was weigh down her skirts with mud. Walking in the downpour had cleared much of the mud off the surface at least. She still felt the weight of it on her boots and the edge of her skirts as she trudged along. Then a terrifying sound reached her ears. The sound of battle drifted through the steady thrum of rain. Metal sounding against metal over and over meant that there were many combatants.

Her eyes grew wide and she picked up her pace and her skirts to make it to the source of the sound. She soon saw figures through the rain and drew to a halt. This was no battle. Not in front of a building like this. No one was even injured. She tightly gripped the edge of her weighted down skirts as she watched with horror as they aimed blow after blow at each other. Her fists tightened. What were all of these people doing out here? They were not only going to get injured but they were going to make themselves sick! She was going to put a stop to this. Now.

Tightening her grip on her skirts she started toward the nearest pair. She didn’t realize that she stood out among them due to her dress. Ivory also didn’t have any thoughts of fighting them. She couldn’t with no weapon to speak of on her. She had lost her staff a while back. It was only a walking stick though. She could find another easily enough. “Excuse me!” She called to the pair fighting. They didn’t seem to hear her as she made her way to them. “Excuse me! What…” They still didn’t seem to hear her. She flinched at the sound of metal ringing against metal. “Excuse me! What do you think you are doing?” Ivory demanded now that she within striking range. The pair fighting stopped for a moment and looked at her with baffled expressions.